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'Supermoon' will be largest, closest full moon of the year

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In this Saturday, May 5, 2012 file photo, a "supermoon" rises behind the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, Greece, southeast of Athens. The phenomenon occurs when the moon passes closer to Earth than usual.
(Dimitri Messinis | The Associated Press)

The moon will be at its closest to Earth, and its largest, this Sunday, June 23.

Referred to in the science community as the 'perigee full moon,' the closest full moon of the year occurs on a different date every year, according to National Geographic. Next year's "supermoon" will take place in August.

On Sunday, the moon will come as close as 221,824 miles to Earth. While the supermoon occurs every year, it isn't as usual for it to coincide so closely with the Summer Solstice, which was on Friday.

"The visual effect is to make this the lowest-down full moon of 2013. And since lower moons tend to be orange­, yellow or amber, shining as they do through more than twice as much reddening air and moisture, this lunar experience should give us a true 'honey moon' all night long. Moreover, lower moons look larger, thanks to the famous 'moon illusion.' This second moon­-enhancing effect will be more visually obvious than its actual size increase."

MSNBC reports the moon will be full at 7:32 a.m. Sunday morning. It will look about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than it does at the farthest point in its orbit.

According to an article on Discovery News, the supermoon would be even more spectacular during the winter months when the Earth is slightly closer to the Sun. The Sun's gravitational pull would bring the Moon and the Earth even closer together.

But is the supermoon really a significant event? According to the Discovery article, scientific research benefits little, if at all from the annual occurrence.

Michelle Thaller, the assistant director of science at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said, "The supermoon for is a fun chance to talk about the changes in the sky observing the universe," but that real research is being done by spacecraft.

In fact, Thaller told PBS that it might be difficult for the casual observer to even notice the increase in size and brightness of this year's supermoon.

NASA scientists have also put down any rumors that the moon's proximity could have dangerous effects on the planet.

NASA planetary geologist Noah Petro said, "There should be no impact on anybody on the Earth. There should be nothing unusual except maybe for more people staring up at the moon, which should be a wonderful thing."

Petro mentioned that the only noticeable effect would be slightly higher tides, according to CBS News.

The best times to see and photograph the moon will be, weather permitting, in the few minutes after local sunset on Saturday, and before sunrise on Sunday, according to National Geographic.